Open Call: U.S. Mission to Australia Annual Program 2026

The U.S. Mission to Australia’s Public Diplomacy Section is inviting proposals for projects that strengthen U.S.-Australia relations through flag football, Holocaust education and efforts to combat antisemitism, or Pacific Islands partnerships through arts, culture, heritage, education, and training. Awards range from US$25,000 to US$100,000 per project for initiatives lasting up to 24 months, with applications open to eligible non-profit organisations, educational institutions, civil society groups, think tanks, and individuals in Australia and the United States.

About the Public Diplomacy Funding Opportunity

The U.S. Mission to Australia Public Diplomacy Section has announced an Annual Program Statement supporting projects that promote mutual understanding and stronger relationships between the United States, Australia, and Pacific Island communities.

The programme is intended to advance public diplomacy objectives by supporting initiatives that encourage collaboration, cultural exchange, education, and engagement.

Projects should demonstrate a clear connection to the United States through American experts, organisations, cultural elements, or perspectives.

Funding Priorities

Applicants must develop projects that address at least one of the programme’s three priority goals.

Promote Flag Football in Australia

Projects can support the growth and awareness of flag football in Australia.

Potential activities may include:

Community participation programmes.
Training and skills development.
Coaching initiatives.
Youth engagement.
Sports exchanges.
Educational activities connected to flag football.
Partnerships involving American sports experts or organisations.

Projects should demonstrate how American expertise or the development of the sport can strengthen connections between the United States and Australia.

Combat Antisemitism Through Holocaust Education

The programme also supports initiatives that use Holocaust education to address antisemitism and promote understanding of its historical and contemporary consequences.

Projects may focus on:

Holocaust education.
Public awareness.
Educational resources.
Teacher or educator training.
Community dialogue.
Historical understanding.
Countering antisemitic narratives.
Partnerships with relevant American experts or institutions.

Applicants should clearly explain how their proposed activities contribute to combating antisemitism and promoting informed public discussion.

Strengthen Pacific Islands Partnerships

The third priority focuses on strengthening relationships among people in the United States, Australia, and Pacific Island countries.

Projects can address areas such as:

Arts and culture.
Cultural heritage preservation.
Education.
Training.
Community engagement.
Cultural exchange.
Shared cultural values.
Professional and institutional partnerships.

Projects should demonstrate how collaboration can build stronger and more sustainable connections between participating communities.

Connection to the United States

A significant feature of the funding opportunity is the requirement for projects to establish a meaningful American connection.

Applicants should consider involving:

U.S. experts.
American cultural organisations.
U.S. educational institutions.
American practitioners.
U.S. policy perspectives.
Relevant American cultural or sporting elements.

The proposed activity should contribute to greater understanding of U.S. policies, perspectives, expertise, culture, or leadership.

Grant Amount

Funding ranges from:

Minimum award: US$25,000
Maximum award: US$100,000
Maximum project period: 24 months

The total number of awards will depend on available funding.

Awards may be structured as:

Grants.
Fixed Amount Awards.
Cooperative Agreements.

Applicants should ensure that their requested amount is appropriate for the proposed activities, expected outcomes, and project duration.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include organisations and individuals based in Australia or the United States.

Eligible applicants may include:

Not-for-profit organisations.
Think tanks.
Civil society organisations.
Non-governmental organisations.
Public educational institutions.
Private educational institutions.
Individuals from Australia.
Individuals from the United States.

Who Is Not Eligible?

For-profit entities are not eligible to apply.

Applicants should also ensure they meet the programme’s registration and administrative requirements before submitting a proposal.

Registration Requirements for Organisations

Organisations applying for funding must have:

A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
Active registration in SAM.gov.

Individuals do not need to register in SAM.gov.

Applicants should complete required registrations well in advance because registration processes can take time and incomplete registration can affect eligibility.

What Makes a Strong Project?

A competitive proposal should clearly connect the proposed activities to one or more of the programme’s priority goals.

Strong projects should demonstrate:

A clearly defined problem or opportunity.
Specific and measurable objectives.
A credible implementation plan.
Meaningful U.S. involvement.
Strong Australian or Pacific partnerships where appropriate.
Clear public diplomacy value.
Defined target audiences.
Realistic project outcomes.
Appropriate use of funding.
A sustainable approach beyond the funding period.

How to Apply

Applicants should develop their proposal around the programme’s strategic priorities.

Step 1: Select a Priority Area

Determine whether the project will focus on:

Flag football in Australia.
Holocaust education and combating antisemitism.
Pacific Islands partnerships through arts, culture, heritage, education, or training.

Step 2: Define the Project

Explain what the project will accomplish and why the activity is important.

Clearly identify the target beneficiaries and communities.

Step 3: Establish the U.S. Connection

Describe the role of American experts, organisations, institutions, cultural elements, or perspectives.

This connection should be substantive rather than simply mentioning the United States.

Step 4: Develop an Implementation Plan

Set out:

Key activities.
Timeline.
Partners.
Target audiences.
Expected outputs.
Expected outcomes.
Monitoring and evaluation methods.

Step 5: Prepare the Budget

Develop a realistic budget that connects each major expense to the proposed project activities.

Requested funding should be appropriate to the project’s scale and duration.

Step 6: Complete Registration Requirements

Eligible organisations should ensure they have an active UEI and SAM.gov registration before submitting the application.

Individuals are not required to register in SAM.gov.

Step 7: Submit the Proposal

Applicants should follow the official application instructions and submit all required information and supporting materials within the specified application period.

Eligible Project Themes

Projects can address a broad range of activities as long as they clearly support one of the programme’s strategic priorities.

Relevant themes include:

Sports diplomacy.
Flag football development.
Holocaust remembrance and education.
Antisemitism prevention.
Cultural diplomacy.
Pacific partnerships.
Arts and cultural exchange.
Cultural heritage preservation.
Education and professional training.
International collaboration.
Community engagement.
U.S.-Australia relations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid the following weaknesses:

Weak U.S. connection: Simply mentioning an American partner is unlikely to demonstrate meaningful public diplomacy value.
Unclear priority alignment: The proposal should directly identify which funding priority it addresses.
Vague outcomes: Explain what measurable change the project is expected to produce.
Overly broad activities: Keep the project focused and achievable within 24 months.
Unrealistic budgets: Ensure requested costs directly support project activities.
Insufficient partnerships: Where appropriate, demonstrate credible collaboration with relevant organisations or communities.
Ignoring registration requirements: Organisations must have the required UEI and active SAM.gov registration.
Commercial focus: For-profit entities are not eligible.

Why This Funding Matters

The programme uses public diplomacy, sports, education, arts, cultural exchange, and international partnerships to strengthen relationships between the United States, Australia, and Pacific Island communities.

Projects supported through the programme can help create practical connections between people and institutions while increasing understanding of American expertise, culture, policy, and perspectives.

The three priority areas also provide applicants with opportunities to address important issues ranging from sports participation and Holocaust education to cultural heritage and Pacific regional cooperation.

Key Funding Details

Funder: U.S. Mission to Australia, Public Diplomacy Section
Funding: US$25,000–US$100,000 per project
Maximum duration: 24 months
Priority areas: Flag football; Holocaust education and combating antisemitism; Pacific Islands partnerships
Eligible locations: Australia and the United States
Eligible applicants: Non-profits, think tanks, NGOs, civil society organisations, educational institutions, and individuals
For-profit organisations: Not eligible
Organisational registration: UEI and active SAM.gov registration required
Individual registration: SAM.gov registration not required
Award types: Grants, Fixed Amount Awards, or Cooperative Agreements

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the U.S. Mission to Australia Public Diplomacy funding opportunity?

It is an Annual Program Statement that provides funding for projects designed to strengthen mutual understanding and partnerships involving the United States, Australia, and Pacific Island communities.

What types of projects can receive funding?

Projects must address at least one priority: promoting flag football in Australia, combating antisemitism through Holocaust education, or strengthening Pacific Islands partnerships through arts, culture, heritage, education, or training.

How much funding is available?

Applicants can request between US$25,000 and US$100,000 per project.

How long can projects last?

The maximum performance period is 24 months.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include U.S. and Australian non-profit organisations, think tanks, civil society and NGOs, public and private educational institutions, and individuals from Australia and the United States.

Can for-profit companies apply?

No. For-profit entities are not eligible for this funding opportunity.

Is SAM.gov registration required?

Organisations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and active SAM.gov registration. Individuals are not required to register in SAM.gov.

Conclusion

The U.S. Mission to Australia Public Diplomacy Funding Opportunity provides grants of US$25,000 to US$100,000 for projects that strengthen connections between the United States, Australia, and the Pacific. Applicants should build proposals around one of the three priority areas—flag football, Holocaust education and combating antisemitism, or Pacific Islands partnerships—while demonstrating a strong American connection, measurable outcomes, realistic implementation, and meaningful public diplomacy value.